JAPANESE STOCKS finished marginally higher after an unexpected upward revision in GDP failed to boost investor confidence in the strength of the nation's economic recovery.

The Nikkei-225 index closed 12.20 points or 0.07 per cent higher at 17,435.17. "The economy has passed its worst period, but we still cannot be sure if it is really back on a recovery track," said one analyst. The market responded negatively to upwardly revised gross domestic product data, but the impact of the higher yen waned later in the day.